Recommendations When Returning to the Workplace During COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a growing concern, businesses continue to suffer from financial instability. However, as of May 8, 2020, the state of California began to shift into Phase 2 of opening businesses. Many businesses including restaurants and retail stores have been reopening in order to support daily operations and living expenses. Reopening businesses may have many risks, but businesses have to follow government regulations in order to protect themselves and the general public.
Businesses that have reopened and/or are going to reopen should be well informed and prepared before going back to the workplace. Employers should review health updates to conform with the CDC and Department of Health guidelines. Employers should not only be prepared but should also educate their employees regarding COVID-19 virus prevention and spreading. There are various preventive measures that employers can take to provide a safer working environment
for all staff.
Employers should prepare a couple of weeks before reopening their businesses because there are several situations that may occur. An employee questionnaire or survey may be helpful because certain employees may need to work from home or telework due to childcare or family care responsibilities. Personal protective equipment (including hand sanitizers, wipes, paper towels, hand soap, tissues, disinfectant, and more) should be provided by employers to employees.
Before entering the workplace, employees’ temperatures can be checked, but names and temperatures should not be recorded because that would be considered private medical history which has to be kept in employees’ files for around 30 years. Hand sanitizers should be placed in common areas of the office for convenient usage. Masks should be worn at all times during office hours and hand washing should be enforced to prevent the virus from spreading to various
surfaces.
During the reopening of a business, it is highly recommended to not have every staff member return to the office at the same time as the 6-foot social distancing rule still applies. There can be a rotation schedule for employees that work from home and others that work in the office. To prevent large gatherings, cubicles, break rooms, and office furniture can be rearranged. Rather than conducting meetings in a conference room, virtual meetings are recommended
as productivity does not decrease but physical contact does.
Protecting yourself will also protect people around you. Please remember to avoid touching your eyes, nose, or face. General office equipment, phones, desks, chairs, and pens should not be shared with others. If you feel uncomfortable or sick, stay home and take preventative measures before returning to work. Employees can bring their own lunch to limit exposure. Other activities, such as nonessential business travel, is not recommended unless approved by
management.
Employers can create a checklist to ensure that they are well prepared when reopening. There are many preventative measures that businesses can take to provide a safe workplace for its employees, but it is important to stay compliant and follow government guidelines. For further guidance, please refer to the CDC and Department of Health website for regulations regarding business operations.
